The British government has released only sketchy details of its
plans for inquiries into the murders of Rosemary Nelson, Billy
Wright and Robert Hamill.

Inquiries into the three cases were announced last April
following the eventual publication of the reports by Canadian
Judge Peter Cory into the murders. The British government
indefinitely delayed any action on the most controversial case,
that of Belfast defence lawyer Pat Finucane.

British Crown forces are thought to have colluded in each of the
killings.

British Direct Ruler Paul Murphy told the Westminster parliament
in a written statement yesterday that the inquiries would be
guided by general principles, and with limited access to
necessary resources.

Senior or retired judges from outside the Six Counties would be
sought to chair each of the inquiries. They will each be
assisted by a legal specialist and another member, also from
outside the Six Counties.

Mr Murphy said he did not know if the format set out would
satisfy the families of the three murder victims, but expressed
his confidence that it was “the right format”.

He stressed each inquiry would have the same powers as the
Bloody Sunday inquiry but would be “cost-effective”.

Mr Murphy’s written statement said the inquiries should
“establish the facts as quickly as possible, but that they
should avoid unnecessary expenditure.”

Mr Wright, head of the Loyalist Volunteer Force, was shot dead
inside Long Kesh by the republican INLA; Ms Nelson, a human
rights lawyer, was blown up by a booby-trap bomb outside her
home in Lurgan, County Armagh; and Mr Hamill was kicked to death
in Portadown, while the police watched.

Sinn Féin said Murphy’s statement left too many issues
outstanding.

Mr Gerry Kelly said: “The British government has been in
possession of the Cory reports since last October. In early
April they published a censored version of Judge Cory’s
findings. Since then they have refused to hold an inquiry into
the murder of Pat Finucane and today they announced the
commencement of the process to set up inquiries into the three
other cases.” He said Mr Murphy’s statement lacked “detail and
clarity”.